West Sussex · England
Festivals, fêtes and school events in Houghton, West Sussex
A menu everybody knows: cod or haddock in batter, chips, sausages and pies, plus mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy on the side. Fish and chip van for events in Houghton.
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
- Sports club events and race days
- School summer fairs
Fish and chip van for events in Houghton
Why choose fish and chip van for events in Houghton?
Almost every visitor likes fish and chips.
Almost any gathering works with a fish and chip van. People in Houghton book the van for occasions like:
- Village fêtes and summer fairs
- Music and food festivals
- Food for volunteers
- Sports tournaments
If your event is in Arundel Park, the organiser will need the landowner’s permission for vehicles and traders.
Questions to ask before you book
- The deadline for final numbers
- What the van needs: space, access, power
- The minimum number of meals or minimum spend
- The service time, and the cost of running over
Fish and chip van for events in Houghton, fried fresh
School fairs and sports days work well with a chip van, with the school’s permission for the van on site. Whether it’s church fêtes and festivals, we can cook mushy peas, cod and chips and haddock and chips.
At a field event near Houghton, power and water may be limited; let us know and we will plan for it. Let us know about allergies and dietary needs in advance, and we will be straight with you about what we can do.
- Location
- Houghton (BN18)
- County
- West Sussex
- Menu
- Cod, haddock, chips, sausages, pies
- Extras
- Gravy, mushy peas, curry sauce
- Quote
- Ask us for a quote
- Updated
- 24 October 2026
Also near Houghton
More for events in Houghton
Houghton: your questions answered
Do you come to venues in the South Downs National Park?
Yes. Some venues there have rules about vehicles and ground, so check with yours. We’ll work to whatever the site needs.
Do you trade at school fairs around Houghton?
Yes, if the school is happy for the van on site. Send us the date and where the van would go.
Can you trade at our fête or festival?
Send us the event details, dates and pitch information and we will let you know if we are available.
How long will the queue be?
A short menu and staggered groups keep things moving. Tell us your timings and we’ll advise.
What does the van need?
A level, firm spot it can drive onto, close to where people will eat, and space for a queue. Mention any narrow gates or soft ground.
Do you trade at schools?
We do. We’ll agree access before the children arrive.
What food do you serve?
Chip-shop favourites: cod or haddock and chips, sausages and pies, with mushy peas, curry sauce and gravy. See the menu.
What does the pitch need?
Tell us the pitch size and ground, and we’ll confirm.
Why fried-to-order beats a buffet
Compared with a barbecue run by volunteers, a van means volunteers can enjoy the day. Dates make a difference: peak summer weekends and Christmas party Fridays book up first. Ask about your date early.
Why us?
- Hot food handed straight over
- No kitchen needed
- A van that becomes part of the event
- Works on wet days as well as sunny ones
See how we price and the cost guide.
Prices and what affects them
Two events with the same numbers can cost different amounts, depending on:
- The length of service
- Any minimum charge
- How easy the site is to reach
- Your choice of menu
When you compare quotes, check what each one includes: hours, menu, travel, minimum charge and VAT. We set ours out clearly.
What we need to know
We can quote more accurately with a few details. Here’s what’s useful:
- The address or venue name
- Anything awkward about the way in
- Your date and serving time
- The spot you have in mind for the van
Not sure of numbers yet? No problem: tell us the basics about your event, and we’ll firm it up nearer the time. Start when you’re ready: fill in our quote form.
Working with your venue
Organising a club, school or community event in Houghton? A fish and chip van draws people in and almost everyone likes it. Give us the details and we will suggest how it could work.
Wedding planners and venue coordinators are welcome to contact us directly, and we will keep you updated on arrival and serving times.
Looking after everyone
Dietary needs are easiest to plan with some notice. Our advice:
- Plan something for visitors we cannot cater for
- Share pitch details
- Agree how we’ll be paid: pitch fee, share of takings or minimum
- Set a time for helpers’ food
If we are feeding volunteers, agree a time that suits the schedule.
Tables and seating nearby help families eat.
About the food
Mushy peas
Proper mushy peas start with dried marrowfat peas. They’re the side most people expect.
Curry sauce
Some people will not eat chips without curry sauce, so we bring it along.
Should I sort the food myself?
Some hosts try a takeaway order. The problem is timing: big orders take a long time, and the food is cooling while it travels. A van solves that by cooking on site.
If you do order from a chip shop, ring well ahead and collect as close to eating time as you can. For a crowd, a van is generally simpler.
Event catering near Houghton
Houghton is about 6 miles north of Littlehampton, in West Sussex. From the centre of Houghton to the outskirts, we offer the same service: fresh frying, hot food from the hatch and a clear price. Houghton is one of 371 places in West Sussex where we bring the van. You can also see our page for Brighton, about 19 miles away.
If visitors are coming by train, the closest railway station is Amberley station, roughly 0.5 miles north-east of the centre. If you’re organising a summer fair or sports day for a school such as Dorset House School, a chip van is a crowd-pleaser. Events in and around the South Downs National Park, within about 2 miles of Houghton, often have rules about vehicles, ground and waste; we’ll follow the site’s requirements.
Events anywhere in BN18 start with a parking spot for the van and roughly how many visitors. Neighbouring places where we serve events include Arundel (3 miles south), Warningcamp (3 miles south-east), Crossbush (3 miles south), Tortington (4 miles south) and Poling (4 miles south-east). Larger places within reach include Worthing (8 miles south-east), Bognor Regis (9 miles south-west), Chichester (11 miles west), Selsey (15 miles south-west), Littlehampton (6 miles south) and Shoreham-by-Sea (13 miles east).
Well-known places in the area include Arundel and District Hospital (2.7 miles south) and Amberley Castle (1.2 miles north-east). Within reach you will find Amberley Wild Brooks and Bignor Hill.
What happens on the day
Nothing is cooked before it’s needed. Fish is battered and fried when people come up to the hatch, which is why it tastes like it does at the seaside. At midsummer, events in Houghton stay light until about 9:20pm, which helps evening trading. Winter fairs, dark by about 4:00pm, need a well-lit pitch.
- You send us the event details and pitch information.
- You get our pitch needs and a quick answer on availability.
- We arrive at the agreed time and set up on the pitch.
- We fry to order and serve from the hatch through the event.
- We clear the pitch when the event closes.
How to prepare
- Tell us when you want to eat
- Choose a level, firm spot for the van
- Give us a contact for the day
How to get a price
Every booking is quoted individually, so the price fits what you actually need. To ask for one, use our quote form.
Related guides
- Fried fresh to order in the van at your event
- Cod, haddock and chips, sausages and pies
- The van comes to you: homes, venues, workplaces and fields
- Served at the time you choose, from the hatch